U.S. Army Band and Soldiers' Chorus to perform

The U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus will present a concert on Sunday, March 15, at 3 p.m. in Northwestern College’s Christ Chapel.

The concert is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Tickets can be obtained in the Northwestern music department’s office in DeWitt Music Hall Monday through Thursday between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. or by visiting www.armyfieldband.com/tickets.

The concert band and chorus are the oldest and largest of the U.S. Army Field Band’s ensembles. They have presented joint concerts in all 50 states and 30 foreign counties, with audiences totaling in the hundreds of millions. The 65-member band and 25-member chorus also perform independently, and have recently shared the stage with ensembles like the Boston Pops, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra.

The concert will feature patriotic, classical, Americana and opera musical selections, including “Washington Post” by John Philip Sousa, “Melody Shop” by Karl King and “Sunrise at Angel’s Gate” by Philip Sparke. The ensembles will also perform Agustin Lara’s “Granada,” Amilcare Ponchielli’s “Il Convego,” “Dogface Soldier” by Bert Gold and Ken Hart, and “A Night at the Opera,” arranged by Jay Norris and Adrian Hernandez.

Staff sergeant Heidi Ackerman, a 2008 graduate of Northwestern College, will perform as the featured vocal soloist for Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Two by Jobim” during the concert.

Ackerman, a member of the Soldiers’ Chorus since 2013, is eager to return to Northwestern’s campus. “I cannot wait to bring the Army Field Band to Northwestern and have them receive the hospitality Orange City offers,” says Ackerman. “Northwestern prepared me for grad school, teaching and performing. Now I’m singing full time, and I’m excited to come back and say ‘thank you’ to the place that helped me reach my dream.”

After graduating from Northwestern as a music and secondary education major, Ackerman taught elementary music before earning a master’s degree in vocal performance from Arizona State University.

In addition to their national tours, formal concerts, chamber recitals and educational outreach, members of the concert band and chorus represent the Army at various ceremonial functions, including the Presidential Inaugural Parade, presidential funerals, the Army All-American Bowl and diplomatic efforts overseas.